To update Members on the remit of the Youth Service and the range of provision across the County.

The Committee were updated on the remit of the Youth Service and the range of provision across the county.

The Community Youth Service Manager reported that within the Every Child Matters (ECM) outcome framework the Youth Service work contributed primarily to the Positive Contribution Outcome area, within which the Youth Service key areas were: positive activities for personal and social development (youth work activities, not leisure based provision), and the participation of children and young people in decision making.   The Service is charged with working directly with young people to achieve a range of key targets in a number of strategies namely: Targeted Youth Support (TYS), Positive Activities, the early identification of vulnerable young people through Youth Involvement, and increasing the opportunities for young people to volunteer.  The activity of the Service in achieving these targets and strategies was described in the agenda report.  Appended to the report was the Community Youth Service Team Plan 2009-10 which set out how the services would be delivered.

During the course of debate the following principal points were noted:

• Under a nationally funded initiative a number of local young people were appointed as Youth Inspectors.  Subject to the limitations of the initiative the Youth Inspectors could decide what local services they wished to inspect – from a young persons point of view.  This was also subject to the agreement of the relevant organisation.  So far two inspections had been undertaken with the resultant findings being written up by the Youth Inspectors and presented to the organisations.  On questioning the availability of the report, as the Committee wished to ensure that the views were being heard, the Committee were informed that while under the initiative the report had a limited circulation this could be escalated if the circumstances required.
• Responding to questions on how the Service communicated with young people the Committee were informed that this was principally by word of mouth,  however, there was a web site with a wide variety of information on it and occasionally flyers were issued.  It was acknowledged that more could be done and the Children’s Trust had recently agreed that a strategy be developed to look at other means of communication.
• Historically, Herefordshire had encountered recruitment problems in the Youth Service due to a variety of reasons, however, this was not now the case with only 3 or 4 posts vacant due to the freeze on the staffing budget. 
• Due to resource constraints there were pressures on the range of services that could be offered, however, greater targeted work would be undertaken through the Locality Teams, partners and schools.
• Noting the result of the questionnaires and questioning how young people not currently engaged in activities were to be reached, the Committee noted the work to be undertaken in supporting vulnerable people and through the Connexions Service.
• Youth activities were usually free or at very low cost.  Charges may be imposed if young people agreed to fund additional benefits.
• Noting an increased level of activities during the summer months a point was made that a good level of interesting indoor activities was required for the winter months to ensure that young people’s interests were sustained.
• Herefordshire had inherited a range of youth service properties in a poor condition and while there were exceptions e.g. at Kington and the Y-Zone, there was no specific capital programme to undertake improvements and therefore a creative look at other funding had been undertaken.
• The Committee requested that more information be provided specifically about the Youth Involvement work e.g. Youth Council and Shadow Children’s Trust and agreed that a member briefing note be provided.
• No national comparative data for the Service as a whole was available, however, in relation to Positive Activities, Herefordshire was thought to be average for the West Midlands.

RESOLVED that:

1. the report be noted and the Committee requests that the Assistant Director Improvement and Inclusion discuss with the Cabinet Member ways of improving the means of communicating with young people.

2. a Member Briefing note be provided specifically setting out the range of work undertaken and costs involved in the Youth Involvement work e.g. Youth Council and Shadow Children’s Trust.